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American School for the Deaf
The first school in the United States specialized for students with disabilities was founded. -
Compulsory Education
The first law requiring that all children be provided with education is created in the United States. -
Columbia Institution
The first college in the world for people with disabilities is founded. -
The White House Conference on Children
This conference was an attempt to bring national attention to the necessity of special education programs. -
Beattie v. Board of Education
This ruling upheld that a student could be excluded from school due to disability. -
Council for Exceptional Children
The first advocacy group for students with special needs is formed. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This ruling overturned "separate but equal", which brought attention not only to racial disparities in education but also to students with specialized needs in a general education setting. -
Federal Funding
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act were amended to provide federal funds for students with disabilities enrolled in public education. -
Rehabilitation Act
The Rehabilitation Act made it so that programs receiving federal funds could not deny benefits for people with disabilities. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
This act requires that students with disabilities are provided with free and adequate education opportunities. -
Least Restrictive Environment
The requirement that students attend as many "regular" classes as possible is formed. -
Board of Education of Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley
This ruling requires that students qualifying for special education programs must have an individualized education plan. -
IDEA
The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was amended to give more meaningful, measurable, and individualized instruction to students and to increase parent involvement. -
My Experience with Special Education
In kindergarten I was put into a type of precursor special education program. I ended up not being placed permanently in the program but I remember it being difficult to be pulled out of my classroom for specialized instruction. -
No Child Left Behind Act
Improved the quality of special education programs by requiring assessment and highly trained professionals to teach students with disabilities. -
Teacher Reaction
In my high school freshman humanities course I distinctly remember our classroom being next to a room utilized for the school's special education program. We heard noises from students next door that caused my teacher to laugh. This made all of the students in my class uncomfortable and made me think about the inappropriateness of that reaction from someone that was supposed to behave more professionally and have the maturity/humanity to not laugh at special needs children. -
Every Student Succeeds Act
The amended version of No Child Left Behind that improved upon problematic aspects of the previous act was created. -
Step-Brother
My step-brother qualified for an IEP and I saw the struggle that it could be to have the school adequately accommodate that. -
Conversation with Special Education Teacher
My dad's friend that is a special education teacher talked to me about her experience teaching and gave me a new perspective to look at my career avenues with. While I didn't choose to specialize in special education her insights still remain relative to me. -
Student Teaching
Through my student teaching I've seen that many students have disabilities that can and need to be accommodated. I hope to give all of my students every opportunity to succeed to the best of my ability.